36. Meeting the New Order (6)
Half of Signi’s daily life was taking care of orphans and the elderly and the disabled at the workhouse, and the other half was filled with giving classes to those apt for holy magic.
I held the child, who was only half a year old, in my arms and fed him baby food made from boiled rice powder.
The light hidden by the thin curtain illuminated Signy’s arms.
Even the cumbersome black sword sticking out of her back could not hide her sacredness.
“It’s not like a sword, it’s definitely going to be a blade.”
Signy laughed at what Zeke said.
“Aren’t black wings a symbol of the devil?”
“It’s white. never.”
“It looks like he’s leaving the city, seeing as he’s giving me a trivial compliment.”
“Does divine magic also have foresight?”
Zeke patted his sister’s shoulder and opened his mouth again.
“It looks like we found traces of the charcoal workers.”
“Is this the Southern Root Kingdom?”
“I don’t know that much, but since it is a trace found near the old Zoricks land, there is a high possibility that it is. “That place is right above the territory of the Southern Root Kingdom.”
“If we can get their equipment, it will be of great help to our survival here.”
“of course. Besides… it’s quicker to ask the charcoal workers about things underground.” “
It looks like you haven’t
given up on that plan yet .”
“ O ”
o.
“Everyone said it was impossible. “Like moving a mountain alone.”
“Wouldn’t that work? Even just one piece of land is good, so if you dig it up and pile it up somewhere else, you might be able to move a mountain someday. “Big rocks are a bit of a problem, but if you have to, you can break them into small pieces.”
“That’s befitting an older brother.”
“There is no need to think about ending it in my college years. “Holy Bitch has been around for 666 centuries.”
“Yes, of course. I am infinitely weak,
but we are strong. “That is the secret to human survival.”
“Just keep an eye on Nezar. Deus-sama left behind a huge burden for me.”
I thought about leaving with Nezar, but his strength was indispensable in Neuekan.
“Do not worry. “As long as you don’t create the Almighty Bracelet, you will be able to control it.”
Zeke looked again at the sword protruding from Signy’s back.
“Isn’t it uncomfortable?”
“It’s already been 10 years. “I think it would be strange without it now.”
“I never thought we would grow together as much as you did.”
” really.”
“Because it appeared suddenly, it will suddenly disappear someday.”
“It’s okay if you don’t comfort me. I saw my karma. A sin reborn with the help of the devil. “It’s just a punishment.”
Zeke closed his mouth tightly.
He briefly kissed his sister’s forehead and left the workhouse.
After talking about the situation
to Sadimus and Nezar Lake in turn, they headed to the barracks on the southern wall.
Thanks to the two days of rest, the expedition’s health was greatly restored.
They looked at Zeke and bowed their heads.
Officially he was an enemy. However, the debt of one’s life could not be ignored.
Katran greeted Zeke in the room.
Archdeacon Aker was also present.
“Lord Zeke! Thanks to you, I am living very comfortably. His generosity
will be a great example to the world.” Vice Bishop Aker
spoke to Sieg with a bright smile.
“I feel sorry for the lack of treatment I received. “Noiekan is sorely lacking in supplies, and we who live here do not have anything in abundance.”
“How about we abandon Neuekahn and take refuge with His Holiness?”
“The task is not easy. I have come here because I have one more thing to tell you. “How about going down the mountain this afternoon, escorted by the main knights?”
Katran looked at Zeke in surprise.
“Today? “Isn’t the caravan supposed to leave in a few more days?”
“Things have changed a bit.”
Acher intercepted Katran’s words.
“That went really well. Even those at Seonghwangcheong must be wondering about our safety right now.”
It wasn’t something that even Katran could object to.
At that time, Zeke looked at Katran and opened his mouth again.
“I have a separate favor to ask Mr. Katran. “Can you give me some time?”
“yes? “Oh yes.”
Acher noticed this and said this.
“Then I will go and tell the surviving knights and soldiers about this good news.”
As he left the room, he glanced at Katran. But Katran pretended not to see his signal.
After Acher left, Zeke spoke to Katran.
“This is a difficult request, but… I am speaking because I think it is something that Mr. Katran can do for you. “If you think it is unreasonable,
please refuse immediately.”
“Zeek, you are my lifesaver. You refuse your benefactor’s request. “I was never taught to be such a pathetic person.”
“Would you please be my master for a little while?”
“yes? Yeah? “You mean the owner?”
“Would that be enough? master.”
“Don’t joke. What on earth are you talking about?
“I have to go to the northeast for work. As you know, I tend to have many enemies , so I try to hide in
Mr. Katran’s shadow .”
“ah! I think I know what you mean. But I think it would be a bit difficult to be a slave… How about a companion?”
“A colleague. Actually, if you are a slave, it would be better to wear armor and weapons, so I think that would be better.”
“If you say minister, I think it’s strange that colleagues use extreme honorifics among themselves. “Please feel free to speak.”
Zeke nodded immediately.
“good. “You should leave it out too.”
“Then since you are a senior hero, I will call you Mr. Zeke.”
Around lunchtime, the expedition left the South Gate, escorted by the three main knights.
Zeke was also among the expedition team. He wore a mask and a hooded cloak that hid his face and armor.
Instead of a sword and shield, he held a staff in his hand as if it were a weapon.
It was shaped like an oyster, pretending to be a wizard.
The others didn’t notice that he was Zeke. This was because
, except for Katrun,
the time they faced Zeke was short and they were scared of going down a path full of monsters.
Hahaeng-gil also encountered monsters several times.
However, none of them were enemies of the Neuekan Main Knights.
Night had come when we had almost left the mountain path.
While everyone was busy setting up camp, Acher secretly called Katrun.
He was drunk. It seemed like he had drunk
the wine that the priests were carrying for the ritual .
“Lord Katran! “Tonight is your last chance.”
“What do you mean?”
“Won’t we all be able to go down this mountain path tomorrow? This means that you will be separated from the Black Hero and his group. “Give this medicine to the nurses today.”
Katrun frowned.
“You’d better stop.”
“If successful, Lord Katran’s reputation will increase. As a hero who killed the main knights of Neuekan, who were a nuisance to the Holy Emperor! I
will definitely tell the Cardinal about his meritorious work. If all goes well, I could become Zodiac Knight.”
Katran sighed and said.
“It’s no use. “They already know Acher’s plan.”
“What is that… Could it be that you were informing the enemy?”
Acher looked around in confusion. It seemed like the main knights were going to rush in and kill him at any moment.
“These are the warriors and their companions who once fought against the Demon King. Do you think you can harm them with just the poison hidden in the ring
?”
Acher pursed his lips.
“Lord Katran, you have already been captured by the enemy. “I didn’t even know that… I was so foolish!”
“It’s not like that.”
“That’s what you were talking about! “You are the only one to whom I have revealed the secret behind the poisoning.”
“Master Acher, if you come down the mountain safely, please lead the remaining soldiers back to Seonghwangcheong under the leadership of Master Acher. “I plan to embark on this path to practice.”
”And like that!”
“During this expedition, I painfully realized the shortcomings of my abilities. “If I want to make a small contribution in the war that will take place 10 years from now, I think I must first develop my skills.”
“Are you running away?”
“You appear to be drunk.”
“This will never go away!”
Katran shook her head and left his side.
We passed through the bush and returned to camp. Zeke was seen building a barracks with slave soldiers.
The soldiers suddenly harmonized together.
Only the noble knights took a step back to save face, while the rest did not hesitate to do chores.
To survive.
Katran seemed to now have some idea of what Neuekan was pursuing.
As already declared, Katran said goodbye to the expedition team as soon as he came down the mountain. Vice Bishop
Aker,
the new commander of the expedition, turned away from him with a cold expression.
Because of the atmosphere, it was difficult for other people to say hello to Katran properly.
In fact, the envoys who had escorted the expedition party sent him off more warmly.
Jusak, the Red Knight, shook hands with Katran.
“Mr. Katran may be a surprisingly good fit for us, as he is willing to leave the easy path and take the difficult path. “If things are not going well and
you have no place to go, come up the mountain.”
“Even if you say so… it is not an easy path for the honor of the Hollygum family.”
“There are one or two bad guys in the family. I am also from the Holyyu family. “I couldn’t take Holly’s last name.”
Jushak said, pulling his hand and bringing his face closer.
“Please take good care of him.”
“Rather, I am protected.” Jusak smiled and let go of Katran’s hand.
Neuekahn’s knights left and Cart
Run headed northeast with several slave soldiers.
The slave soldiers who followed him were from the Holy Gum family. It seemed quite lucky to have survived the fierce struggle and followed its master.
Zeke was also among them.
Some time ago, Zeke hid among the expedition team.
The slaves thought he was a member of the main knight.
However, the owner, Katran,
introduced him as a colleague of the Hollygum family.
It was strange, but what can you do? If it’s the owner, then so be it.
The road leading from the Kingdom of Verde to the northeast has deteriorated to an extent that is incomparable to the past.
It was because of the mugwort monsters that came down the mountain from time to time.
Instead of taking the old route, the caravans took a return route much further south.
After walking along the old pipe for about half a day, we came across a small castle.
It seemed difficult to get to the next village,
so Zeke and Katran decided to do maintenance in that village.
After the mugwort monster appeared, the walls became taller and the gates became smaller.
As I passed through the gate, which seemed barely enough for a carriage to pass through, I saw a Geomachang (桓馬槍) made of sharply carved logs.
These were all devices to deal with giant monsters.
Suspicious people could not pass through the gate. However
, there was no way anyone would look suspiciously at
the Holy Gum family’s warrior .
The moment I showed my family’s badge, the castle’s guard came to show respect.
After getting a room at the Turban at the entrance to the castle, Zeke and Katran stopped by the restaurant on the first floor.
In the meantime, the slaves were provided with lodging and food in the slave-only quarters attached to the turban.
